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| Yemen: 'Militants' die in fresh drone strikes | Yemen: 'Militants' die in fresh drone strikes |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| At least 14 suspected al-Qaeda militants have been killed in Yemen in three drone strikes, officials say. | |
| The number of such strikes in Yemen, presumably launched by the US, has been stepped up over the past month. | |
| The latest attacks come a day after Yemeni authorities said they had foiled a major al-Qaeda plot against oil pipelines and ports. | The latest attacks come a day after Yemeni authorities said they had foiled a major al-Qaeda plot against oil pipelines and ports. |
| Yemen is deemed a stronghold of an al-Qaeda offshoot considered by Washington to be the most dangerous to the West. | Yemen is deemed a stronghold of an al-Qaeda offshoot considered by Washington to be the most dangerous to the West. |
| In the latest strike on Thursday evening, Yemeni officials told BBC Arabic that a drone targeted a group of suspected militants, killing four of them in Wadi al-Jadd in the southern province of Hadramout. | In the latest strike on Thursday evening, Yemeni officials told BBC Arabic that a drone targeted a group of suspected militants, killing four of them in Wadi al-Jadd in the southern province of Hadramout. |
| Two strikes earlier in the day in Marib and Hadramout provinces killed 10 suspected militants, the security officials said. | Two strikes earlier in the day in Marib and Hadramout provinces killed 10 suspected militants, the security officials said. |
| On Wednesday, another seven people died in a drone attack. | On Wednesday, another seven people died in a drone attack. |
| While the US has acknowledged targeting militants in Yemen with drones, it does not comment publicly on its policy or the raids. | While the US has acknowledged targeting militants in Yemen with drones, it does not comment publicly on its policy or the raids. |
| About 30 suspected militants have been killed in a series of such raids in Yemen since 28 July, news agencies report. | About 30 suspected militants have been killed in a series of such raids in Yemen since 28 July, news agencies report. |
| Earlier this week Yemeni security forces were placed on high alert amid fears of an al-Qaeda-linked attack that prompted Western embassies to close. | Earlier this week Yemeni security forces were placed on high alert amid fears of an al-Qaeda-linked attack that prompted Western embassies to close. |
| Both the US and UK withdrew diplomatic staff and urged their nationals to leave the country. | Both the US and UK withdrew diplomatic staff and urged their nationals to leave the country. |
| On Thursday, Yemeni counter-terrorism forces raided a number of addresses north of the capital Sanaa after a tip-off that they were being used by operatives of al-Qaeda in the Arabian peninsula (AQAP), a Yemeni security source told BBC Arabic. | On Thursday, Yemeni counter-terrorism forces raided a number of addresses north of the capital Sanaa after a tip-off that they were being used by operatives of al-Qaeda in the Arabian peninsula (AQAP), a Yemeni security source told BBC Arabic. |
| In another development, a Yemeni diplomatic source told BBC Arabic that the US had suspended arrangements to return about 100 Yemeni detainees from the Guantanamo Bay prison in Cuba. | In another development, a Yemeni diplomatic source told BBC Arabic that the US had suspended arrangements to return about 100 Yemeni detainees from the Guantanamo Bay prison in Cuba. |
| However a White House official said there had been no policy change and that President Barack Obama's May decision to lift a moratorium on transferring Guantanamo detainees to Yemen remained in effect. | However a White House official said there had been no policy change and that President Barack Obama's May decision to lift a moratorium on transferring Guantanamo detainees to Yemen remained in effect. |
| "He lifted the moratorium on transfers in favour of a case-by-case evaluation. That evaluation necessarily will take into account security conditions. The security situation is always taken into account," the official told the BBC. | "He lifted the moratorium on transfers in favour of a case-by-case evaluation. That evaluation necessarily will take into account security conditions. The security situation is always taken into account," the official told the BBC. |